The Industrial Revolution

I am a German immigrant working at assembly line in Ford company. It was the very few industrial site that had influenced the course of the 20th century. Before I came to America, I heard lots of negative news about the whole Industrial Revolution. Such as poor working conditions, workers had no rights, and using child labor. But so many people went there, so I assumed I could make big money there.

The plant was commonly known as the “Crystal Place”, due to amount of glass used in the construction. Among the first buildings to be constructed included the Power House and Administration Building which fronted Woodward Avenue, as well as, a foundry, machine shop, and main assembly building made of reinforced concrete that would draw international attention. The main structure was four stories, a sixth of a mile long. Paralleling it for almost its entire length was a much wider one-story structure 840 feet long and 140 feet in breadth, with a saw-tooth roof. Between these two large buildings extended a craneway, 860 feet by 57 feet, with traveling cranes as wide as the way beneath. Side openings in the main building and in the machine shop made it easy to deliver materials from the craneway, or to transfer materials across the craneway from one building to the other. Indeed, the two units might really be considered one great building, with a skylight-roofed craneway running down the middle and another extending to one side. The heavy machinery was all placed on the ground floor, and it was here that the manufacture of the chassis and most other parts would be carried on. The heating plants with washers were on the roof so that they could not only heat, but also ventilate and cool the buildings. The waste air on its way out of the building heated the craneway without any expense. Unlike other factories of its day, the main assembly building had no interior dividing walls, was well-ventilated, and boasted 50,000 square feet of glass that allowed an abundance of sunlight. All of the buildings were installed with a sprinkler system activated if the temperature reached 160 degrees. When the Highland Park Plant officially opened on January 1, 1910 it was the largest auto plant in the world and contained Michigan's largest building under one roof.

First time walked in the plant, I was shocked by the crowds there. How did they put hundreds of people and all that machine in that house. Everyone seemed so busy. The car we made was called Ford Model T, and it cost you about 950 dollars in 1910. It was expensive, the average citizen whose annual earnings were only half that amount, but a lot cheaper comparing to hand-made cars back in Europe. But it was reduced to $360 in 1917. We made car at a moving assembly line, a great invention by Henry Ford. The whole building process was splitted into many parts. In that way, every components could be built at the same time, then combined each part together. It was ten times faster than hand-built car. Workers did not required to know too many techniques.

I was assigned to engine assembling unit. What two other guys and I did was to put the engine which was hung on the conveyor at the top of my head into the chassis, then put some bolts on. The finished one got pushed to the next step, and then came the new engine and chassis. We did the same thing over and over. It was fun on the first few days, but as the time goes, it became boring. Henry Ford seemed to be a real decent guy. The reason I said that because we got paid 5 dollars every day, which was three times higher than average manufacturing job. We used to work nine hours a day, and got reduced to eight. The policy was changed in 1914. The potential of earning $5 a day drew thousands of applicants to the plant. When the company suspended hiring, an estimated crowd of 10,000 frustrated job seekers broke factory windows and overturned vendor stands outside the plant. In an effort to disperse the riotous group, Highland Park Police turned fire hoses on the men, although the temperature that day was well below freezing. The section I worked was not too crowded, because moving the chassis and engine needed a lot of space. Other guys who worked on the small components were not that lucky. It was like around fifty workers surrounded a twenty meters picnic table with a spinning conveyor. The components finished from last step were transfered by it They put bolts or other stuff on it. It was literally shoulders touch shoulders. Lots of people have strong cigarettes smell on them, some of them really liked talking, it was just a disaster to me.

The complex became a magnet for job seekers from all over the United States, as well as, Europe and other parts of the world. In 1917, the company employed over 36,000 people representing 63 nationalities and speaking more than 100 languages and dialects. Foremen had to be instructed how to say "hurry up" in four different languages: English, Polish, German and Italian. At its peak in 1924, the plant employed nearly 70,000 people.

The complex also had Sanitation department,27 painters and 665 men scrubbing floors once a week; emergency hospital and six auxiliary first aid-stations with a 68-member staff; security department - 200 member staff, mostly watchmen; Fire department - manned by 90 firefighters over three shifts; english School which not only included English classes, but lessons in etiquette, hygiene, safety, and civics; photographic department that produced newsreels, as well as, historical and educational films to be shown in theatres, schools and, even, prisons.

The Ford Model T used a 2.90 L inline 4-cylinder engine. It was primarily a petrol engine, but it had multifuel ability and could also burn kerosene or ethanol. It produced 20 hp for a top speed of 45 mph.

Child labor in the World Today: Senegal

Why is child labor being used in the country? What is issue/challenge? Poverty and unemployment levels are high. Access to compulsory, free education is limited. Existing laws or codes of conduct are often violated. Laws and enforcement are often inadequate. The global economy intensifies the effects of some factors.

Progressive Era

Question: Where is this place.Clue: The buildings were different styles. Trolley cars in the street. People wore formally. The street were paved nicely.Conclusion: This place was well constructed, and was not far away from downtown.

Question: What were these women doing?

Clue: The words were about those women wanted liberty. They mentioned president. The flags behind them were French flags.Conclusion: French women gathered in front of the white house, and asked President of the united states to give the women liberty.